Street sweeper



g- 1937 'A. SCHMIDT, JR 3,337,890

STREET SWEEPER Filed Sept. 4, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 29, 1967 A. SCHMIDT, JR 3,33 7,890

STREET SWEEPER Filed Sept. 4, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 tary sweepers, over a truck or the like United States Patent 3,337,890 STREET SWEEPER Alfred Schmidt, Jr., St. Blasien, Germany, assignor to lug. Alfred Schmidt, St. Blasien, Schwarzwald, Germany, a firm Filed Sept. 4, 1964, Ser. No. 394,463 Claims priority, application Germany, Oct. 25, 1963, Sch 34,053 7 Claims. (CI. 15-83) The present invention relates to street sweepers.

In particular, the present invention relates to powerdriven street sweepers mounted on a vehicle, for example, and, when operating, acting to sweep dirt from a street or the like into a suitable receptacle, which of course must be emptied from time to time.

In conventional structures of this type a suitable linkage assembly is mounted on the front of the vehicle and carries a rotary sweeper, which extends transversely of the path of movement of the vehicle in front of the latter, as Well as, in front of the rotary sweeper, a receptacle, into which the dirt is swept. Also, such conventional structures may include a lateral sweeping assem-- bly located laterally of the rotary sweeper in front of the vehicle. In order to unload the receptacle when the latter is filled it is necessary with such conventional structures to raise the entire assembly, including the roso that a receptacle can be emptied.

One of the disadvantages of such conventional structures resides in the fact that the rotary sweeper is inseparable trom and forms a unit with the dirt-receiving receptacle so that it is essential during unloading of the latter to raise the entire sweeping unit, and the result is that the possible height through which the sweeping assembly can be moved from the street surface is limited so that there are ditficulties in loading trucks which are relatively high. It has already been proposed to avoid, at least in part, this latter disadvantage by makingthe sweeping assemblies, including the containers which receive the dirt, of a very short and low construction, with the result that the area over which the sweeping operations can take place is reduced and also the amount of dirt which can be received by the receptacle is also reduced.

There are also known structures where the dirt-receiving receptacle is situated behind the rotary sweeper which operates with such construction to throw the dirt over the sweeper into the receptacle, but such constructions are even less suited for loading not only a relatively high truck but even a relatively low truck to a suitable height, which is to say to provide on the truck a load of dirt which will have the desired height, because with this type of structure the distance between the sweeping assembly and the dirt-receiving receptacle is even less than with the above-discussed type of construction where the receptacle is situated in advance of the rotary sweeper.

Furthermore, with conventional structures of the above type the dirt-receiving receptacle is fixed to the mounting linkage in such a way that it will assume an unloading position which is at an angle which makes it ditficult to completely empty the receptacle quickly and with a minimum of inconvenience.

It is accordingly a primary object of the present invention to provide a sweeper structure which will avoid the above drawbacks of the prior art.

In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide a street sweeping assembly or the like which can be operated in such a way that the dirt-receiving receptacle thereof can be raised to a height which is far greater than has heretofore been obtainable with a linkage of a given size and moving capability.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide 3,337,890 Patented Aug. 29, 1967 a structure of the above type where, when the dirt-receiving receptacle is to be emptied, it is placed at such an attitude that the dirt will quickly and conveniently empty from the receptacle into a truck or the like so that a minimum of inconvenience is involved in emptying of the receptacle and at the same time the emptying operations are carried out quickly.

It is furthermore an object of the present-invention to provide a structure which connects the receptacle and the rotary sweeper to each other in such a way that during the sweeping operations there Will be a minimum of movement of the rotary sweeper and the dirt-receiving receptacle relative to each other.

Also, it is an object of the present invention to provide a structure which will reliably prevent any spilling of dirt from the receptacle during movement of the latter in connection with situating the receptacle over a truck or the like into which the dirt is to be amptied.

Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a structure which requires the operator to carry out an extremely small number of manipulations in order to efl ect all of the operations required in connection with the sweeping of a street or the like and the emptying of the dirt into a truck or other area which is adapted to receive the dirt.

The objects of the present invention also include provision of a structure which will position the rotary sweeper assembly at a position where it will in no way render the emptying operations difiicult to carry out so that the operator can, for example, freely maneuver the receptacle with respect to a truck or the like without being concerned as to any hampering of the operations which might be derived from the rotary sweeping assembly.

It is furthermore an object of the present invention to provide a structure of the above type which can include notonly a rotary main sweeper which extends transversely of the path along which the sweeper moves ut also a lateral sweeping assembly which can be used for sweeping curbstones or the like.

It is furthermore an object of the present invention to provide a structure where the entire sweeping machine can conveniently be disconnected from or assembled with a linkage which is mounted on a vehicle.

In accordance with a primary feature of the present invention, a rotary sweeping means and a receptacle means are operatively positioned with respect to each other so that the receptacle means will receive the dirt swept by the rotary sweeping means, and in accordance with the invention these two means are separate from each other so that with suitable further structure of the invention it becomes possible to raise the receptacle means independently of the rotary sweeping means to a position over a truck or the like so that the contents of the receptacle means can be emptied, and in this way it becomes completely unnecessary to raise the rotary sweeping means to the same extent as the receptacle means and thus there are no limitations on the movements of the receptacle means resulting from a permanent connection with the sweeping means.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings which form part of the application and in which:

FIG. 1 is a partly schematic side elevation of one possible structure according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows the structure of FIG. 1 in the position it takes during emptying of dirt from the dirt-receiving receptacle; and

FIG. 3 is a schematic top plan view fragmentarily illustrating the main rotary sweeper and dirt-receiving receptacle and illustrating in particular how a lateral sweeping means is operatively connected with the rest of the structure.

' the linkage means 4 Referring now to FIG. 1, there is illustrated therein a rotary sweeping means 1 which includes an elongated broom 24 of cylindrical configuration adapted to rotate about its axis and housed within a suitable casing which is of course open at its bottom so that the bristles of the rotary sweeping means can engage the surface which is to be swept. Situated forwardly of the rotary sweeping means 1 is a receptacle means 2 in the form of an elongated hollow box which at its right wall, as viewed in FIG. 1, is formed with an opening for receiving dirt swept by the rotary sweeping means 1, the outer casing of the latter in which the rotary broom 24 is housed being open at its left end, as viewed in FIG. 1, so that transfer of the dirt from the rotary sweeping means 1' into the receptacle means 2 is not hampered in any way.

In accordance with one of the features of the present invention there is a releasable lock means 3 operatively connected to the rotary sweeping means and the receptacle means 2, and this releasable lock means 3 has a locking position illustrated in FIG. 1 releasably locking the sweeping means 1 and the receptacle means 2 to each other in such a way that they cannot move relative to each other and thus there are no scraping noises which would result from such movement and in addition there is no wear which would also result from such movement. As may be seen from FIG. 1 the releasable lock means 3 includes at each end of the receptacle 2 a pivoted lock member which is adapted to have a hooked portion thereof hook onto a pair of projections which are fixed to opposite ends of the casing in which the broom 24 is housed, and it is also to be noted that the receptacle 2 is provided at its right end, as viewed in FIG. 1, with a flange which overlaps the left free portion of the metal casing in which the broom 24 is housed.

A linkage means 4 is adapted to be removably mounted in a well known manner which does not form part of the present invention on the front end of the vehicle 5, and this linkage means 4 is operatively connected to the rotary sweeping means 1 and the receptacle means 2 not only for positioning the latter two means operatively with respect to each other but also operatively with respect to a street or the like which is to be swept, and in addition is operatively connected to the receptacle means 2 for raising the latter away from the rotary sweeping means 1, as indicated in FIG. 2, so that in this way the rotary sweeping means need not accompany the receptacle means when the latter is to be emptied. The linkage means 4 includes an elongated main curved beam assembly 4a shown at the upper part of FIG. 1 and pivotally connected at its right end, as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2, to a part 4b of the linkage means which is fixedly mounted on the front of the vehicle. It will be seen that the main beam assembly 4a of the linkage means 4 is provided at its left end with a pair of hook portions, one of which is indicated in FIGS. 1 and 2, and these hook portions respectively receive a pin which passes through a rigid wall 2a which is fixed to and extends upwardly from the top wall of the box which forms the receptacle receiving the dirt, so that with this pin 6 thus received in the free hook-shaped end portions of the main beam 4a of the linkage means 4 the receptacle means 2 is operatively connected to the linkage means 4 for turning movement relative thereto between the positions indicated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The sweeping machine has its elevation relative to the surface which is to be swept determined by three rollers 7 two of which are respectively carried by the end walls of the casing of the rotary sweeping means 1 third is carried by the front wall of the receptacle means 2 and is of course situated approximately midway between the pair of end rollers 7. The operative connection between the rotary sweeping means 1 and the linkage 4 includes a plurality of elongated links 8 which are pivotally connected atone of their ends to the casing which houses the broom 24 and at their other ends part 4b of the frame while the structure of the linkage means 4 which is fixedly carried by the vehicle 5.

Vehicle 5 includes a power take-off shaft 9 which serves to provide the drive for the rotary cylindrical broom 24. Thus, as is shown diagrammatically in FIG. 1, the rotary shaft 9 can be connected through a suitable universal joint with a shaft 10 which is again connected by a universal joint with a bevel gear assembly 11 which serves to drive a chain and sprocket assembly 12 by which the drive is transmitted from the bevel gear assembly 11 to the central elongated shaft which carries the the broom 24 and which is supported for rotary movement at its ends by the end walls of the casing of the rotary means 1. It is to be noted, however, that the drive for the broom 24 can be carried out in any other known way such as hydraulically or electrically or even from the rotary movement of the rollers 7.

In FIG. 2 the linkage means 4 is shown in the position it takes when the receptacle means 2 is to be emptied. The opening of the receptacle means 2 through which dirt enters into the latter is adapted to be closed by a closure means 16 which is movably carried by the receptacle means 2 for movement between the closed position illustrated in FIG. 2, where the closure means 16 closes the opening of the receptacle means 2 through which dirt enters into the latter, and the open position of FIG. 1 where this openings is uncovered so that dirt can freely be thrown into the receptacle means 2 by the rotary sweeping means 1. This closure means 16 is in the form of an elongated plate of arcuate transverse curvature which extends along the entire length of the receptacle 2 and which is mounted at its ends on a pair of V-shaped supports which are pivotally mounted: on suitable brackets so that the closure means 16 can be swung from the open position of FIG. 1 to the closed position of FIG. 2 and then back to the open position of FIG. 1. A moving means is operatively connected to the closure means 16 for displacing the latter between its closed and open positions, and in the illustrated example this moving means takes the form of a hydraulic cylinder 17 in which is situated a piston the piston rod of which is operatively connected to one of the V-shaped supports for the closure means 16 so that by displacement of the piston in the cylinder 17 the closure means 16 will be displaced between its open and closed positions, and the cylinder 17 is fixedly carried by the left wall of the receptacle means 2, as viewed in FIG. 1. Elongated flexible conduits which are not illustrated connect the hydraulic cylinder 17 with a suitable source of hydraulic liquid, and in the cab of the vehicle 5 there is accessible to the operator suitable valve-operating structure which in a well known manner, which does not form part of the present invention, enables the operator to displace the closure means 16 between the positions thereof respectively illustrated in FIG. 1 and 2.

As is apparent from FIGS. 1 and 2, a connecting means 3a interconnects the closure means 16 with the releasable lock means 3. This connecting means takes the form of a pair of links located next to the opposite end walls of the receptacle 2 at the exterior thereof and pivotally connected at their right ends as viewed in FIG. 1, to the pair of levers of the lock means 3 which are pivotally carried by the end walls of the receptacle means 2, as pointed out above, and the left ends of these links 3a, as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2, are pivotally connected to arms of the V-shaped supports of the closure means16. Thus, when the closure means 16 is in the open position of FIG. 1. the connecting means 3a is retracted to the left, as viewed in FIG. 1, thus swinging the levers of the bristles of 16 is displaced to its closed position shown in FIG. 2 the connecting means 3a will be displaced to the right, as viewed in FIG. 1, thus turning the levers of the releasable lock means 3 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1, so that the hook-shaped free ends of the levers of the lock means will be displaced from the projections thereof and thus the rotary sweeping means 1 and the receptacle means 2 are no longer fixedly locked to each other and the receptacle means 2 is free to he raised away from the rotary sweeping means 1. Of course, the end walls of the receptacle means 2 are provided with suitable relatively short arcuate slots through which the pins which connect the links of the connecting means 3a to the V-shaped supports of the closure means 16 extend and along which they are freely movable, and in the same way the piston rod of the piston which is in the hydraulic cylinder 17 extends through a suitable opening in the front Wall of the receptacle means 2 so as to be pivotally connected with the arms of one of the V-shaped supports of the closure means 16..

This feature according to which the releasable lock means is automatically displaced between its locking and release positions by actuation of the closure means 16 is of no particular advantage since the operator need only manipulate the above-referred to valve structure for controlling the movement of the piston in the cylinder 17 so as to displace the closure means 16 between its closed and open positions, and the lock means will be automatically operated without requiring any attention or manipulations on the part of the operator.

The structure of the present invention also includes a positioning means which will position the receptacle means 2 when it is to be emptied at an attitude which situates the opening of the receptacle means 2 in a downwardly directed orientation so that the contents of the receptacle means 2 can be quickly and easily emptied therefrom. This positioning means includes a pair of cables 19 which are connected at one of their ends to the wall 2a at the upper end of the receptacle means 2, this wall 2a carrying the pin 6 referred to above. The cables 19 of the positioning means extend from the wall 2a over a pair of guide rollers 20 which are pivotally carried by the main beam 411 of the linkage means 4, and at their ends which are distant from the wall 2a the cables 19 are connected with an arm of a bell crank 21 which is pivotally carried by the main beam 4a. The other arm of the bell crank 21 is pivotally connected with one end of an elongated link 25 which at its other end is pivotally connected to the stationary frame structure 4b of the linkage means 4. Thus, the result is that when the main beam 4a is turned about its pivot axis 40 from the position of FIG. 1 into the position of FIG. 2 the link 25 in operation with the bell crank 21 will displace the cables 19 along the rollers 20 so that the wall 2a is swung with respect to the left free end of 5 the beam 4a in a clockwise direction, thus situating the opening of the receptacle means 2 in a downwardlydirected attitude. Of course, in the same way when the main beam 4a is returned to the position of FIG. 1 the receptacle means 2 will be swung in a counterclockwise direction relative to the main beam 4a so that it will again have an attitude which will enable it to be operatively positioned with respect to the rotary sweeping means and with respect to the street, so that in this way the linkage means operates to position the receptacle means 2 and the rotary sweeping means operatively with respect to each other and with respect to the street.

The structure of the invention also includes a raising means for raising the rotary sweeping means 1 from the surface which is to be swept at least to a slight extent during the operations in connection with the emptying of the receptacle means 2, so that in this way the maneuvering of the vehicleS during emptying of the receptacle means 2 will in no Way be hampered by the rotary sweeping means 1. In the example illustrated this raising means simply takes the form of an elongated rod or cable 18 pivotally connected at one end to the casing of the rotary sweeping means 1 and at its opposite end to the main beam 4a at a location which is adjacent to the tuming axis 40 of the main beam 4a. Because the elongated bar or cable 18 is connected to the beam 4a adjacent to its turning axis 4c the extent to which the rotary sweeping means 1 is raised will be relatively small, as is apparent from FIG. 2. While it is possible to provide other devices such as suitable hydraulic devices or gear drives or the like for raising the rotary sweeping means 1, the use of a simple bar or cable 18 is preferred because of its extreme simplicity, and by connecting it to the beam 4a in the region of its turning axis the extent to which the rotary sweeping means 1a is raised is of course limited.

The structure also includes a lateral sweeping means 13, shown diagrammatically in FIGS. 2 and 3, in the form of a flat rotary broom which is situated laterally and forwardly of the rotary main sweeping means 1, as is apparent particularly from FIG. 3. This rotary sweeping means 13 is of course adapted to sweep curbstones or the like. Because of the fact that the broom 24 is situated in a casing it is of course extremely difiicult to locate the broom 24 at a position where it can have access to curbstones, gutters, and the like, and it is for this reason that a lateral sweeping means 13 is provided, this sweeping means 13 during its operation displacing dirt into the path of the main sweeping means 1 which then displaces the dirt into the receptacle means 2. The lateral means 13 is carried by an elongated hollow arm 22 which is pivotally connected to an end wall of the casing of the rotary main sweeping means 1. Thus, as may be seen from FIG. 3, the arm 22 includes at its right end the housing of a bevel gear drive 15, and this latter housing is in turn fixed to a hollow tubular member 22a which is turnable with respect to the end wall of the casing of the main sweeping means 1, and in fact the shaft 24a which carries the bristles of the broom 24 extends coaxially into the interior of the hollow tubular portion 22a of the arm 22 so that the drive from the chain-and-sprocket 12 is transmitted by the shaft 24a of the broom 24 directly to the bevel gear drive 15. The possibility of the portion 22a of the arm 22 to turn relative to the casing of the main sweeping means 1 enables the broom 13 to assume whatever elevation is required by the butter or curbstones simply by resting on the surface of the street or gutter which is being swept, and of course this raising or lowering of the broom 13 by the street itself relative to the main sweeping means 1 is in no Way interfered with because of the turnability of the portion 22a relative to the casing of the main sweeping means 1 as well as of because of the beveled gear drive in housing 15 which permits such turning to take place. The elongated hollow arm 22 accommodates the drive for the rotary fiat broom 13, and it will be seen that the beveled gear drive in housing 15 is connected to a universal joint at one end of a shaft 14 which at its opposite end is connected through a second universal joint and through another bevel gear drive to the rotary broom 13. The components of the drive means 14, which are schematically illustrated in FIG. 3, are all housed within the hollow arm 22 which thus protects the drive means 14 from dirt.

In order to raise the lateral rotary sweeping means 13 to an inoperative position where it will in no way hamper the operations in connection with emptying of the receptacle means 2a hydraulic cylinder and piston assembly 23 (FIG. 2) is connected to the arm 22 and is in a known way controlled by the operator so as to raise the broom 13 to the position indicated in FIG. 2 during operations in connection with the emptying of the receptacle 2. Of course, at the end of the operations all of the parts are returned to the position shown in FIG. 1 as well as in FIG. 3.

Because the receptacle means 2 is connected to the linkage means 4 by a pin 6 which simply rests in notches at the hook-shaped ends of the linkage means 4, it is an extremely simple matter to disconnect the receptacle means 2 from the linkage means, and in the same way it is very easy to disconnect the links 8 from the casing of the rotary sweeping means 1 which can also be very conveniently disconnected from the power take-01f shaft in a manner well known in the art. Furthermore, the flexible conduits for the hydraulic fluid which are connected to the cylinders 17 and 23 can also be conveniently disconnected therefrom in a manner well known in the art so that the structure of the invention is very easy to remove from or assemble with the linkage means 4, and of course the linkage means 4 itself in a well known manner is removably carried by the vehicle 5 so that at anytime the linkage means 4 can be removed from the vehicle 5 and thereafter any suitable structure such as a snow plough, earth-moving device, or the like can be operatively connected to the vehicle 5, which may then be used for a purpose entirely diiferent from street sweeping.

Of course, when the receptacle means 2 has been placed in the position shown in FIG. 2 where it is located over a suitable truck or the like, which is not illustrated, the operator will control the piston in the cylinder 17 so as to displace the closure means 16 to its open position enabling the contents of the receptacle means 2 to be emptied into the truck or the like, and then the closure means 16 is returned to its closed position before the receptacle means 2 is returned to its operating position relative to the rotary sweeping means 1, shown in FIG. 1, whereupon the closure means 16 is again placed in its open position, thus bringing about the automatic locking of the receptacle means 2 and the sweeping means to each other by way of the releasable locking means 3, as described above.

While it is possible'to use instead of a positioning means, formed by cables 19, rollers 20, bell crank 21, and link 25, other positioning means such as hydraulic or pneumatic devices connected to the receptacle 2 for positioning the latter in the attitude shown in FIG. 2 when raised and in the attitude shown in FIG. 1 when lowered to the operating position, the above-described positioning means is preferred because it is composed of simple mechanical elements which operate in a fully automatic manner and in response to the turning of the main beam 4a to bring about the required attitude of the receptacle means 2.

It is also to be noted that the structure can be placed in the position shown in FIG. 2 during transportation of the entire assembly from one location to another when sweeping operations are not to be carried out. Also, the disconnection of the sweeping structure fiom the linkage means 4 and the assembly of the sweeping structure therewith can be carried out with the use of conventional well known fastening elements or the like.

What is claimed is:

1. In a rotary street sweeper, sweeping means, receptacle means located next to said sweeping means for receiving dirt swept thereby, releasable lock means operatively connected to said rotary sweeping means and said receptacle means for releasably locking them into each other, means for efiecting upon actuation release of said lock means thereby separating said receptacle means from said sweeping means, and linkage means adapted to be mounted on a vehicle, said linkage means being operatively connected to the sweeping mean and to said receptacle means for positioning them in operating positions for sweeping a street or the like, and for raising said receptacle means away from said sweeping means when said releasing means is actuated, said receptacle means being adapted to be raised by said linkage means to elevations independently of said sweeping means for the purpose of emptying the receptacle means.

2. In a street sweeper, sweeping means, receptacle means located next to the sweeping means for receiving dirt therefrom, releasable lock means movable between locking and release positions, and operatively connected to a street or the like 'ing means transferring said to said sweeping and receptacle means, so that saidreceptacle means and said sweeping means are firmly connected with each other by said releasable lock means when said street sweeper is in a sweeping position, linkage means adapted to be mounted on a vehicle, said linkage means being operatively connected means and said receptacle means for operatively positioning both of said means into a sweeping position relative to a street level or the like, means for effecting upon actuation release of said lock means, said linkage means being adapted to raise said receptacle means independently of said sweeping means.

3. In a street sweeper, sweeping means, receptacle means located next to said sweeping means for receiving dirt therefrom, said receptacle means having construction of a box which is closed except for an opening directed towards said sweeping means and through which dirt from the latter enters into said receptacle means, closure means movably carried by the receptacle means for movement between a closed position closing said opening and an open position uncovering said opening, means operatively connected to said closure means for moving the latter between said positions thereof, and linkage means adapted to be removably mounted on a vehicle, and operatively connected to said receptacle and said sweeping means for positioning said sweeping means into an operative sweeping position thereof, said linkage means being adapted to raise said receptacle means separately from said sweeping means, releasable lock means operatively connected to said'sweeping and receptacle means, said moving means being operatively connected to said closure means and said releasable lock means, said movclosure means to said closed position thereof during the releasing movement of said releasable lock means and during the movement of said' receptacle means from .the street sweeping position into an emptying position by said linkage means, said moving means being adapted to be actuated to return said a closure means to said open position thereof for emptying the contents of the receptacle means.

4. Ina street sweeper, rotary sweeping means and receptacle means located next to said sweeping means and formed with an opening through which dirt swept by said rotary sweeping means can enter into said receptacle means, releasable lock means operatively connected to,

said rotary sweeping means and said receptacle means for releasably locking them toeach other when said releasable lock means is in a locking position, said releasable lock means having also a release position for releasing said receptacle means from said rotary sweeping means to be raised independently of the latter, closure means movably carried by said receptacle means for movement between a closed position closing said opening of the receptacle means and an open position for uncovering said opening of said receptacle means, moving means operatively connected to said closure means means between said closed and open positions thereof, and linkage means adapted to be mounted on a vehicle, said linkage means being operatively connected to said rotary sweeping means and 'said receptacle means for operatively positioning both the latter means with respect for sweeping the latter, said linkage means being operatively connected by means of a pin to said receptacle means for raising the latter away from said rotary sweeping means after said moving means has moved independently of said rotary sweeping means from of, thus placing said releasable lock means in said released position thereof, whereby said receptacle means can be moved independently of said rotary sweeping means from a street sweeping position into an emptying position.

5. In a street sweeper, rotary sweeping means, receptacle means located next to said rotary sweeping means to the sweeping for displacing the latter and said receptacle means, linkage means adapted to be mounted on a vehicle, connecting means for operatively connecting said linkage means to said rotary sweeping means and said receptacle means for positioning them operatively with respect to each other and with respect to a street, or the like, during sweeping thereof, means for releasing said locking means whereby said sweeping means and said receptacle means are unlocked from each other, said linkage means being adapted to raise said receptacle means separately from said rotary sweeping means for emptying the contents of said receptacle means, and positioning means operatively connected to said receptacle means and said linkage means for positioning said receptacle means in a position where said opening thereof is directed outwardly when said linkage means raises said receptacle means away from said sweeping means.

6. In a sweeper as recited in claim 5, said linkage means including an elongated main beam, said main beam being turnable around a predetermined axis during lifting of said receptacle means.

7. In a street sweeper, rotary sweeping means, receptacle means located next to said rotary sweeping means 10 for receiving dirt therefrom, and linkage means adapted to be removably mounted on a vehicle and operatively connected to said rotary sweeping means and said receptacle means for positioning the latter operatively with respect to each other, and with respect to a street, or the like, which is to be swept, said linkage means being operatively connected to said receptacle means for raising the latter away separately from said sweeping means for emptying said receptacle means and connecting means for removably connecting said sweeping means to said vehicle.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,904,881 4/1933 Presbrey l582 2,614,279 10/1952 Mott 1583 2,684,496 7/1954 Lull 1583 2,697,846 12/1954 Wilcox et a1. l5-83 2,708,280 5/1955 Antos et al. l583 CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner. E. L. ROBERTS, Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,337,890 August 29, 1967 Alfred Schmidt, Jr. fied that error appears in the above numbered pathe eb certi It 15 r y said tt s Patent should read as ent requiring correction and that the corrected below.

Column 8, lines 66 and 67, after "moved" strike out independently of said rotary sweeping means from of," and insert instead said closure means from the closed position thereof,

Signed and sealed this 6th day of August 1968.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD J. BRENNER Edward M. Fletcher, 11'.

Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer 

1. IN A ROTARY STREET SWEEPER, SWEEPING MEANS, RECEPTACLE MEANS LOCATED NEXT TO SAID SWEEPING MEANS FOR RECEIVING DIRT SWEPT THEREBY, RELEASABLE LOCK MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID ROTARY SWEEPING MEANS AND SAID RECEPTACLE MEANS FOR RELEASABLY LOCKING THEM INTO EACH OTHER, MEANS FOR EFFECTING UPON ACTUATION RELEASE OF SAID LOCK MEANS THEREBY SEPARATING SAID RECEPTACLE MEANS FROM SAID SWEEPING MEANS, AND LINKAGE MEANS ADAPTED TO BE MOUNTED ON A VEHICLE, SAID LINKAGE MEANS BEING OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO THE SWEEPING MEANS AND TO SAID RECEPTACLE MEANS FOR POSITIONING THEM IN OPERATING POSITIONS FOR SWEEPING A STREET OR THE LIKE, AND FOR RAISING SAID RECEPTACLE MEANS AWAY FROM SAID SWEEPING MEANS WHEN SAID RELEASING MEANS IS ACTUATED, SAID RECEPTACLE MEANS BEING ADAPTED TO BE RAISED BY SAID LINKAGE TO ELEVATIONS INDEPENDENTLY OF SAID SWEEPING MEANS FOR THE PURPOSE OF EMPTYING THE RECEPTACLE MEANS. 